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200+ Free Series 99 Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Series 99 Exam

68%

Passing Score

34/50 scored questions

55

Total Delivered

50 scored + 5 pretest

70%

Operations Content

FINRA blueprint

30%

Conduct & Ethics

FINRA blueprint

$100

Exam Fee

FINRA

90 min

Exam Duration

FINRA

The Series 99 exam requires 68% (34 of 50 scored questions) to pass. FINRA allocates the exam 70% to broker-dealer operations tasks and 30% to professional conduct and ethical considerations. Most candidates should plan on 35-60 hours of study with extra emphasis on onboarding, transfers, settlement, privacy, and escalation workflows.

About the Series 99 Exam

The Series 99 qualifies operations professionals to support core broker-dealer workflows, including account opening, transfers, custody and control, settlement, confirmations, books and records, privacy, and supervisory controls.

Assessment

50 scored multiple-choice questions plus 5 unscored pretest items

Time Limit

1 hour 30 minutes

Passing Score

68%

Exam Fee

$100 (FINRA)

Series 99 Exam Content Outline

70%

Knowledge Associated with the Securities Industry and Broker-Dealer Operations

Account opening and maintenance, cashiering and account transfers, custody and control, trade reporting, margin, settlement, statements, regulatory financial requirements, and books and records.

30%

Professional Conduct and Ethical Considerations

Customer and vendor dealings, privacy rules, complaint and red-flag escalation, supervision, controls, written supervisory procedures, and business continuity.

How to Pass the Series 99 Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 68%
  • Assessment: 50 scored multiple-choice questions plus 5 unscored pretest items
  • Time limit: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Exam fee: $100

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Series 99 Study Tips from Top Performers

1Map the full operational workflow from account opening to settlement so you understand where SSIs, ACATS, DRS/DWAC, statements, and record retention fit together.
2Separate custody and control concepts from net capital and books-and-records concepts; the exam likes to test which control belongs to which rule set.
3Practice operational judgment questions on account restrictions, red flags, complaints, and escalation paths instead of memorizing only definitions.
4Memorize core transfer and settlement vocabulary, including ACATS, residual credits, DK notices, buy-ins, closeouts, DVP/RVP, and CNS.
5Review privacy and supervision topics with current dates in mind, especially Regulation S-P implementation milestones and business continuity obligations.
6Do timed question sets and avoid scheduling the exam until you are consistently scoring 80% or better on mixed-topic practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Series 99 qualify you to do?

The Series 99 qualifies you to perform covered broker-dealer operations activities such as customer onboarding, cashiering and account transfers, receipt and delivery of securities and funds, settlement support, statements and confirmations, and operational control processes. It is the FINRA representative-level qualification for Operations Professionals.

Do I need the SIE and firm sponsorship for Series 99?

Yes. FINRA treats the SIE as a corequisite to the Series 99, and candidates must be associated with and sponsored by a FINRA member firm or other applicable SRO member firm to sit for the exam. FINRA also allows certain eligible-registration exceptions, so some already-qualified registrants may be able to register as Operations Professionals without taking the Series 99 exam.

How many questions are on the Series 99 exam?

The Series 99 exam has 50 scored multiple-choice questions plus 5 unscored pretest questions, so you will see 55 items in the testing center. You have 1 hour and 30 minutes to finish the exam, and the current published passing score is 68%.

What topics matter most on the Series 99 blueprint?

The biggest share of the blueprint is the 70% operations section, which covers account opening, transfers, custody and control, trade reporting, margin, settlement, confirmations, regulatory financial requirements, and books and records. The remaining 30% focuses on privacy, complaints and red flags, communications, vendor due diligence, and supervisory controls.

How long should I study for the Series 99?

Most candidates should plan for about 35-60 hours over 4-8 weeks. Candidates with hands-on back-office or operations experience can often stay near the low end, while candidates new to broker-dealer operations usually need more repetition on transfers, settlement, custody, and control workflows.

What current 2026 compliance updates are relevant to Series 99 prep?

Keep T+1 settlement as the current U.S. standard. Also know that the SEC's 2024 Regulation S-P amendments have compliance dates beginning December 3, 2025 for larger entities and June 3, 2026 for smaller entities, and SEC staff extended compliance with amended daily reserve-computation requirements under Rule 15c3-3 to June 30, 2026. Those are current operations-relevant updates, even though FINRA has not published a separate 2026 Series 99 blueprint revision.